HOSPITAL FIRE UPDATE: East Surrey “fully operational”

Smoke coming from fire at East Surrey Hospital. Photo by Mark Wigmore.

James Oxenham

Published:16:43Monday 06 June 2016

East Surrey Hospital is “fully operational” after three ambulances and part of the building caught fire this afternoon (Monday June 6).

Four fire crews were called to the hospital in Redhill at around 2.15pm

Firefighters spent more than an hour tacking the flames which were extinguished at 3.30pm.

Michael Wilson, chief executive of the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said the blaze broke out in an ambulance near the east entrance of the hospital. The fire then spread to two other ambulances parked alongside it.

He said: “There were no patients involved and all patients and staff are safe. The police, fire and ambulance services were on site within a few minutes and the fire is now under control.”

The hospital was closed to emergencies and patients were diverted through South East Ambulance Service.

Mr Wilson added: “The fire outside East Surrey Hospital is out and the fire service are clearing the area. The hospital is fully open and operational.

“Grateful thanks go to our staff and the fire, police and ambulance teams for their quick response.”

Eyewitnesses said they heard several explosions during the fire which sounded like a ‘bomb’ was exploding.

Crews are still at the scene and are investigating the cause of the fire.